Complicated grief reactions require more complex therapies than uncomplicated
grief reactions. Adjustment disorders (especially depressed and anxious mood or
disturbed emotions and behavior), major depression, substance abuse, and even
post-traumatic stress disorder are some of the common problems of complicated
bereavement. Complicated grief is identified by the extended length of time of
the symptoms, the interference caused by the symptoms, or by the intensity of
the symptoms (for example, intense suicidal thoughts or acts).

Complicated or unresolved grief may appear as a complete absence of grief and
mourning, an ongoing inability to experience normal grief reactions, delayed
grief, conflicted grief, or chronic grief. Factors that contribute to the chance
that one may experience complicated grief include the suddenness of the death,
the gender of the person in mourning, and the relationship to the deceased (for
example, an intense, extremely close, or very contradictory relationship). Grief
reactions that turn into major depression should be treated with both drug and
psychological therapy. One who avoids any reminders of the person who died, who
constantly thinks or dreams about the person who died, and who gets scared and
panics easily at any reminders of the person who died may be suffering from
post-traumatic stress disorder. Substance abuse may occur, frequently in an
attempt to avoid painful feelings about the loss and symptoms (such as
sleeplessness), and can also be treated with drugs and psychological therapy.

Grief felt for the loss of a loved one, the loss of a treasured possession, or a
loss associated with an important life change, occurs across all ages and
cultures. However, the role that cultural heritage plays in an individual's
experience of grief and mourning is not well understood. Attitudes, beliefs, and
practices regarding death must be described according to myths and mysteries
surrounding death within different cultures.

Individual, personal experiences of grief are similar in different cultures.
This is true even though different cultures have different mourning ceremonies,
traditions, and behaviors to express grief. Helping families cope with the death
of a loved one includes showing respect for the family's cultural heritage and
encouraging them to decide how to honor the death. Important questions that
should be asked of people who are dealing with the loss of a loved one include:

What are the cultural rituals for coping with dying, the deceased person's
body, the final arrangements for the body, and honoring the death?

What are the
family's beliefs about what happens after death?

What does the family feel is a
normal expression of grief and the acceptance of the loss?

What does the family
consider to be the roles of each family member in handling the death?

Are
certain types of death less acceptable (for example, suicide), or are certain
types of death especially hard to handle for that culture (for example, the
death of a child)?

Death, grief, and mourning spare no one and are normal life
events. All cultures have developed ways to cope with death. Interfering with
these practices may interfere with the necessary grieving processes.
Understanding different cultures' response to death can help physicians
recognize the grieving process in patients of other cultures.

This information has been provided with the kind permission of the National Cancer
Institute (www.nci.nih.gov/cancerinfo/)